SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED: Local eateries closing in 2012

A lot more Naples-area restaurants opened than closed in 2012, but here are the dining spots that permanently turned out the lights.

Until July, St. George & the Dragon restaurant, 936 Fifth Ave. S., operated near Four Corners in Naples for more than 42 years.

Dairy Queen's more than 50-year-old store in the classic red, A-frame building on U.S. 41 in Naples closed Sept. 3, 2012. The next day, the new DQ Grill & Chill opened three blocks north at 694 Ninth St. N.

Naples Daily News

The building's signs and familiar red-and-white-striped pyramid topper are gone. This is the last trace of Colonel Sanders at the former KFC location, which closed July 1 on the corner of U.S. 41 North and Michigan Avenue in Naples. A BankUnited branch is planning to open there in early 2013.

After nearly 30 years, Erin's Isle closed in July. The land was sold and the new owner did not renew owner Mike Ward's lease.

Naples Tomato closed April 28 after operating for eight years off U.S. 41 in North Naples.

The Jolly Cricket, opened by Jane and Tony Wood in October 2009 on Naples' Fifth Avenue South, closed Nov. 9, 2012.

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After operating as Sam Snead's Tavern during the 12 years since it opened in December 1999, the Naples Walk location in North Naples closed in March 2012.

Naples Tap Room & Grille, the former longtime North Naples location of Sam Snead’s Tavern, changed its name March 19, but closed before the month ended. Capers Kitchen & Bar opened at that Naples Walk location in October.

The BeiJing, a traditional Chinese restaurant that operated for more than 10 years in North Naples, closed in April to make way for a future Chase bank branch at 10975 U.S. 41 N.

L'Etoile, a French restaurant, closed in early May after operating for only six months at 10711 U.S. 41 N. in North Naples.

Latitude Fusion Cuisine restaurant closed April 15 after operating for about a year in Naples Walk shopping center in North Naples.

Absinthe closed April 30 after operating for more than four years in unit 200 of the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples.

After operating for only six months, Pate’s House of Prime Rib closed March 25. Pate’s House of Prime Rib opened October 2011 in the Coastland Center mall location vacated in January 2010 by Ted’s Montana Grill. It's now the new home of Aurelio's Pizza in Naples.

Piola pizzeria closed in Mercato in early March after operating for nearly three years. Naples Flatbread & Wine Bar opened another location there.

Chrissy's at Bayfront closed March 18, 2012, after operating for more than a year at Bayfront Place in Naples. It's now EJ's Bayfront Café.

Silver Spoon Café in the Promenade at Bonita Bay closed Aug. 22, 2012, after operating more than 10 years in the Bonita Springs shopping center.

GreekElicious Food & Pastries closed earlier this year after operating about a year in Imperial Square Plaza on the northeast corner of U.S. 41 North and Imperial Golf Course Blvd.

China Express closed for the summer with plans to reopen in October, but the Chinese restaurant permanently closed in Piper's Crossing in North Naples. The eatery first opened last October.

Europia Bistro in Pebblebrooke Center closed at the end of April. Owners Alex and Eva Stranavsky closed the bistro in order to open Alpine Restaurant on July 9 in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples.

Bajio Mexican Grill closed at the end of March after operating for more than two years in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road #158, North Naples.

Alia's Cafe, 3400 Radio Road, recently closed in April in East Naples. Sweet Pea's, a breakfast-lunch cafe operated by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Fadi Rabil and Chrissy Bianchi-Rabil, is now open at that location.

Vapiano permanently closed in early 2012 in Gulf Coast Town Center. Famous Dave's opened a location there in December.

Emack and Bolio's closed Sept. 8, 2012, after operating nearly four years in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt on the northeast corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads in North Naples.

Naples Ice Cream Factory closed in September 2012 in Green Tree Center on the corner of Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads in North Naples. Jack and Rita's Homemade Ice Cream recently opened there.

The Martin Fierro Restaurant & Steak House closed in June in Radio Road Plaza in East Naples, but the restaurant will reopen soon in Marquesa Plaza on the southeast corner of Livingston and Pine Ridge roads.

The old Jaegerhaus closed its original location in October behind Mel’s Diner on U.S. 41 in Naples, but the restaurant reopened Dec. 5 in the former Green Tree Center home of Taste of Chicago in North Naples.